Let me ask this about the home

[l921428x]

defense round. .38 special 147 gr. wad cutter. I was just reading that basically
you should use something else. I don't understand the reason. Does it have to
do with powder load? It was said they run below 900fps slow but not a HD load?

[Richard Simmons]

There are better loads but if you can hit with it use it. For .38 Special I only use 158gr SWC or SWCHP running as close to 900fps as I can get.

[Schuetzenman]

Low speed, not much energy is the problem. Are these hollow base wadcutters loaded with the hollow base forward acting like a mega hollow point? Those can be effective if loaded hot. Otherwise you'd be better off with 125 gr. to break 1000 fps.

[kimberkid]

Thanks for the explanation Schuetz!

For my concealed carry and hd guns I load them with 124grain hollow points ... silver tips, gold dots, same as what cops use ...

It may not be true but, I'm a re-loader and I've heard that if you use your reloads, and ever have to use deadly force and go to court that it could hurt your case, so I just use what LE does and IF it ever becomes an issue I can just honestly say that I use standard Law Enforcement type ammo not some "ultra deadly home cooked killer load"

[O.S.O.K.]

I would like to see penetration tests of a 147 grain wad cutter (not reversed hb wc). I would think that it would do pretty well around 850 fps... and be a decent defense round. The reason being the wide meplat and straight line penetration.

The 125 modern HP is the top rated 38 SPL defense load without a doubt.

[therewolf]

IMO, the .38 wadcutter is a fearsome round. I've done a bunch of ballistics testing with

wet telephone books. That slow, fat, flat round does some nasty damage.

[l921428x]

Yeah that is what I was thinking. The revolver I use them in is strictly in home.

[JTHunter]

For "close-in" work, I don't see a problem with that 147 grain WC. If you are lucky, it might have better penetration with a greater chance of hitting and breaking bones. The only thing better would be a full metal jacket round.
I reload for my .357 Magnum and I'm loading two different 158 grain bullets - a semi-jacketed HP and a semi-jacketed flat point. This way, I can load the same powder to the same level for both and have different results.

[l921428x]

Measured the longest shot I can take in my home is basically 30'.

[therewolf]

I settle for hollow points in my .357 for SD rounds. I'd love to have some of those

flat, slow wad-cutters, but apparently you can't buy them over the counter, AFAIK.

But I wouldn't worry, I92148x, those WCs will work just fine.

[l921428x]

Where are you?

http://www.ammoman.com/38-special?jacket_type=479

[therewolf]

They might just be in my next Ammoman order.
I thought the only way you could get them is if
you reloaded them, yourself.

[l921428x]

Cool.